LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS MEDIA CONFERENCE

June 12, 2021

Rudy Gobert

Postgame Press Conference

Los Angeles Clippers - 132, Utah Jazz - 106

Q. Your teammates and coach said that they were really physical and that you guys, not so much didn't have trouble matching their physicality, but were kind of thrown off on it. What did you guys see in terms of what they were able to do in terms of getting up into you defensively? And how can you counter that going forward in this series?

RUDY GOBERT: As you said, I think they were really physical. There were a lot of things. The ball kind of stopped moving a little bit a few times. Usually in those situations you ended up with them scoring on us in transition or us fouling or, they really were able to feel out the defense and we know that. Our goal is to try to play half court defense every single possession. And of course we got to do a better job running back, but it makes it hard on us, of course, when we get a turnover or a bad shot or whatever it is and they're able to run on us. We're going to watch film and see how are things that we can do better.

But we, despite all that, it was just an eight-point game early in the fourth. So I think for us it's just being able to play through that physicality and make sure we keep attacking the rim with the drive or with the pass and then everything else opens up. We're able to find the shooters. We're able to find the bigs at the rim or we're able to -- usually they're going to collapse or it's hard for us to finish at the rim right away. But just keep playing through the physicality and play, do multiple actions. Their whole game plan is to take away our first initial action, so we got to stay focused, stay tough, and stay connected throughout the whole possession.

Q. Obviously they did very well shooting the ball tonight. How much of was that they were having a great shooting night and how much is it that you guys have some things that you need to fix defensively?

RUDY GOBERT: I think it's all connected. Obviously you got to give them credit. They shot the ball very well from three. I don't know, I don't have the numbers, but it really felt like they were hitting some contested ones too and we got to make sure we don't give them the open ones and we got to make sure that, once again, we don't allow them to play in transition or to get offensive rebounds because we know that usually they're going to score off those opportunities. So give them credit. They made a lot of shots and we got to do a better job next game.

Q. With Donovan playing through some pain a little bit, what's the level of concern for you and for his teammates right now? I mean, is that something that's on your mind a lot day by day?

RUDY GOBERT: No. I mean, when you come back from -- we're all going to play through some stuff. I think he's doing a great job taking care of himself. Feeling all the changes on his side to make sure that's able to play at a high level and there's going to be some pain. As long as it's, doesn't get worse and he's still able to move and play, hopefully we will be okay. I think he's doing everything he can to try to be there, even though sometimes it might be painful. I think it's part of the game. It's an ankle sprain. I mean, we all have, I think all of us have ankle sprains in our careers. Sometimes it's bad. Sometimes it's not as bad, but hopefully he's able to fight through it. The fact that we don't have to travel tomorrow should be huge and I think he'll be better next game.

Q. When Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are kind of driving towards the paint, when are you deciding you should help? Especially when they're playing five out, when are you deciding you should help in that versus staying on the shooter?

RUDY GOBERT: I mean, I'm trying to make sure that I'm always there for my teammates. That's kind of what we have been doing, not just against Kawhi, but against anybody. That's our defense. It's just about us making sure that we, when we need to rotate, make sure we do a better job communicating. I think tonight we didn't do a great job being loud and talking to each other throughout the whole game. We did it at times and I think we're going to be better next game doing that.

It's on me being better when I help, making better decisions, and also it's on all of us to make sure that we don't give up easy drives because then it's, it makes it a lot harder on me to, when it's a straight-line drive, to help, and it's an easier pass for them to the corners. So it's, it makes it harder on everybody and I think it starts with communication and just keep doing what we do.

Q. I know you're focused on game right now, not the personal accolades, but congrats on Defensive Player of the Year.

And my question for you is, we have talked to you a lot about how you have evolved and you've been able to defend so many different offenses that you've seen over the years. When we had you mic'ed up the other night, you were so loud. Your communication was amazing. How much better of a communicator do you think you've become? Do you feel like you're quarterbacking the defense in a much higher level than maybe the first time you won Defensive Player of the Year?

RUDY GOBERT: I think maybe my English got a little better, still not great. But I think, yeah, communication has always been, I always thought that communication was a very huge part of having a good defensive team, and myself being the guy that usually is back there and kind of sees everything happening, I have to make sure that I set the tone and I talk to my teammates, and also I feel like when my teammates hear my voice, I think that it allows them to lock in even more and to compete even more.

I think we, as a team, we all need to -- and we know it. We know that when everyone is talking like that, we get to a higher level defensively and everyone is more connected. And it kind of carries over on the offense too. There was a few games when we don't do it consistently. Also sometimes with the crowd it's a little harder to hear each other, but I think we are going to do a much better job next game for sure.